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“This is the part where I’m begging you to stay.”
“Ted, please stay.”
“Ted, please.”
“Please…”
“…please?”
This couldn’t be happening, the man she loved was walking away from her. No matter how hard Rebecca tried to beg, it never worked, Ted kept going. It was silent as Ted boarded the plane without a single thought, letting Rebecca wallow in her own pity. She could feel the tears streaming down her face, letting herself stand there in the midst of the chaos around her. There was a split second that Rebecca had caught Ted’s eye from his spot in the line, his gaze focused on her. He kept his smile the same as he spoke one last final world.
“Never.”
Rebecca Welton had awoken from her dream without warning, eyes wide as her hands flailed around to grab something. The room was dark, the moonlight barely peeking into her bedroom. She could faintly see the time clock near her nightstand, the digital device reading 3:05 the moment she could focus on it. It was silent in the room, and Rebecca swore time had stopped even thought she had just saw the time. It took a few moments for Rebecca to breathe properly, her head resting against the back of the headboard. With a heavy shudder, Rebecca released her death grip on the bedsheets and tried to calm her breathing, only to be startled by something moving beside her.
Ted Lasso was on the left side of her bed, currently dead asleep like nothing was happening. Now that she was awake, she was remembering the day before and the events that led to this in the first place:
Rebecca had followed Ted to the airport, begging him to stay one last time. She didn’t expect him to agree, but slowly, Ted’s walls came crumbling down. He had told her about his mother’s desire for her son to come home, and how his son missed him dearly. Rebecca couldn’t have imagined that the sweetest southern woman could manipulate Ted so fast, but yet here they were. She could understand why he wanted to leave, but she still wanted to put up a fight, for Ted’s sake.
Inside that airport, Rebecca decided to tell Ted that she loved him, wanting to get her feelings out of the way. She expected him to not say anything, almost expecting him to run towards the gate. Luckily for her, Ted had surprised her by setting his bags down so that he could wrap his hands around his waist and pull her into a kiss that was so rom-com worthy, it would have made millions. The moment their lips touched, it felt like fireworks. Rebecca felt so relived, whispering her thanks over and over once they had managed to part, but Ted was the one thanking her now. It gave Ted the courage to stay.
Plans were changed once they managed to talk it out, letting Ted express his feelings while supporting him the entire time. Rebecca just listened as Ted explained everything, from his mother’s visit, to their little talk and even expressing his fears towards his absence from Henry’s life. Of course, things like this didn’t just fade over time, the feelings would still be there, even if they were never fully acknowledged. The two of them knew that things would take time, but they could make it work.
Once her memory had served its purpose, she had now been faced with seeing a sleeping Ted Lasso in her bed.
Rebecca looked over at Ted, unable to come up with any words as she just went blank. The man was still asleep, lying on his stomach with his head towards the left. She could see his tendrils gently resting over his eyes, and Rebecca fought the urge to move it with her fingers.
Instead, in a sudden fit of rage, Rebecca grabbed her pillow and swung it at Ted. She landed the attack directly onto his head, causing Ted to wake up, but not move from his spot. His eyes were open now, glancing around the room before Rebecca landed another blow on his chest, which made Ted cry out in alarm.
“Hey! What was that for?” Ted cried out as he forced himself to sit up, hands running the side of his head. He didn’t seem very thrilled with his new wake up call. “Jesus darlin’, didn’t peg ya for a murderer.”
“You! You!” Rebecca squawked out suddenly as she tried to say what was really on her mind, but the angry words faded away the moment her eyes landed on Ted’s face. She frowned, now feeling terrible for his rude awakening. “You…stayed with me..”
“Of course! Did ya want me gone?” Ted asked softly, watching her face for any kind of anger. Instead, Rebecca released her pillow and reached out for Ted’s hand.
“No! No, please. It was just a nightmare.” Rebecca explained as she felt his hand grab hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I asked you to stay, back at the airport, and you still went back. You left me alone Ted.”
“Oh, I’m sorry darlin, so sorry.” Ted managed to whisper out the moment he let go of her hand so he could pull Rebecca closer, letting her relax in his embrace. His arms wrapped around her waist, squeezing her tight. “I’m so glad I stayed.”
Rebecca let out a pitiful whine the moment she sunk into Ted’s chest, letting herself have this moment while trying to focus on Ted’s warmth. She could smell his cologne on him, the shirt he happened to be wearing still having a hint of the cologne from earlier that week. There was something about him that smelled wonderful, and Rebecca couldn’t get enough.
“I can’t believe I hit you with a pillow.” Rebecca managed to mumble out, her hands gripping Ted’s shirt tight. “I tried to murder you, I’m so upset.”
“Now hang on baby, that’s not your fault. Things happen.” Ted told her gently while one hand began to rub circles in Rebecca’s back. Upon hearing that nickname, Rebecca’s heart jumped from her chest, wishing he’d call her that more often. “You know back when Beard and I were in college, I slept walked when I was stressed. One time I dreamed that there was a bunch of bats goin’ to get me, so I smothered them. Turns out, it was Beard under that pillow, not the bat. He was madder than a wet hen at first, but he forgave me real quick. That next night, he made a pillow fort on his bed so that I couldn’t get him, and it kinda worked. I didn’t dream that one again, but poor Beard stole my pillows to keep himself safe.”
“I’m still very sorry, I don’t know why I did that.” Rebecca kept telling him softly, her hands slowly releasing the death grip she had on Ted’s shirt, but not fully letting go. “I felt so angry, like you had cheated on me.”
“Becca, if I ever cheat on you, I expect nothin’ less than hell from ya.” Ted assured her gently as he pressed a kiss to the top of Rebecca’s head. “You’re a goddess Rebecca, you deserved to be worshiped like one for the rest of your life. Anyone would be a damn fool to cheat on a woman like yourself. I’m so glad you made me stay.”
Rebecca could feel tears gathering in her eyes and only nodded so that the floodgates wouldn’t let loose, snuggling her face into Ted’s chest to dry her tears. It didn’t last long, the stress and anxiety of yesterday bubbling over in Rebecca’s mind. The first pitiful sob made Ted squeeze her harder.
“I love you Becca, I love you so much.” He whispered out softly as Rebecca cried, his own tears threading to spill while he rocked the two of them together. “You saved my life, you saved me.”
“Ted.” Rebecca cried pitifully, her face still buried in his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“I know baby.” Ted tried to soothe her gently, letting out a heavy sigh as his tears began to fall. At this point, the only thing he could do was let the both of them cry it out. Rebecca managed to sob until she physically couldn’t anymore, sniffling heavily as she pulled her face away from Ted’s chest. In the faint moonlight, Ted could see how puffy her eyes and cheeks were, slowly pulling one hand away so that he could use his thumb to wipe at her tears. He smiled as Rebecca gave her own weak grin, thumb still rubbing her cheek while remaining in each other’s gaze.
“I love you.” Rebecca had finally managed to whisper through her tears, leaning her head forward so that their foreheads touch. Ted smiled upon the contact and let out a sigh of relief, his hand still resting on her cheek.
“I love you.” Ted repeated softly as they sat together, letting each other soak up the moment.
Ted and Rebecca managed to sit in silence for a few more seconds until Rebecca pulled back first, letting out another sniffle.
“Can we go back to sleep?” Rebecca asked softly, her eyes becoming heavy as she waited for Ted’s answer. Of course, Ted immediately reached one hand down to pull the blankets back over their bodies, since Rebecca had tossed it during her dream. With the blankets now draped over them, Ted managed to scoot himself down so that be could lay Rebecca on top of him, her head still on his chest.
“Is this good?” Ted whispered out while his hand snaked around her back, his head resting on her back. It was enough to make Rebecca sigh in delight, eyes slowly closing.
“Mhmh.” Rebecca mumbled out the second her eyes were closed, another sigh escaping her lips as the sadness finally faded away. It wouldn’t be much longer before Rebecca went back to sleep, already exhausted from her recent crying session. As Rebecca started to doze, Ted couldn’t help but whisper a few things.
“I love you, so much. Thank you for saving me, thank you so much baby.” He whispered to no one but himself as time went on, praying that Rebecca could hear him even while asleep. He repeated it a few more times before his eyes became heavy and closed themselves, the exhaustion now taking over Ted. It wasn’t long before he released his own sigh as he faded into slumber.
Ted dreamt of his future that night with Rebecca by his side, and in the back of his mind, he hated the other Ted that haunted Rebecca’s nightmare.
That Ted had no idea what he was missing.